Physics: Physics and Education

Universiteit Leiden

Deze opleiding

The master's specialisation Physics and Education prepares you for a career as a teacher in secondary schools. After completion, you obtain the qualifications to be a physics teacher.

Physics and Education optimally prepares you to teach the subject of physics to secondary school students, based on a solid background of high quality research in physics. The programme comprises a one-year Physics component, followed by an education component in the second year. This master's specialisation uniquely enables you to make a relevant impact on society by educating today's secondary school pupils for tomorrow's challenges in the field of physics.

Do you want to fascinate our younger generations for the field of physics? Are you aiming for a career as a modern and flexible teacher? Then, the Physics and Education master's specialisation is the right choice for you. After completion, you will have obtained your teacher qualification, which is required for employment as a physics teacher in Dutch secondary schools. You can also participate in the World Teachers Programme for international teaching. As the main education component is taught in Dutch, all applicants must provide proof of proficiency in Dutch language.

onderwijsvormen

instruction modes

The programme has a elatively large staff to student ratio. It can thus afford to provide students with individualized attention. The study programme is discussed and decided with the Study Advisor who remains a reference point throughout the programme. Interaction during classes is informal and strongly encouraged. Interaction during the research project(s) is direct and informal and takes place within a small group of which an MSc student is integral part.

objectives

By following the Education Programme you will be able to combine your scientific background with new skills and become acquainted with teaching. This two year programme will give you the right tools for being a scientist and a teacher.

The entire MSc programme in combination with the Education specialisation consists of two components:

Physics component (60 EC)

Education component (60 EC)

The Physics component contains a Master's Research Project, compulsory courses and electives. The Education component of the specialisation is offered by the Leiden Graduate School of Education (ICLON) and includes courses on didactics and adolescent psychology and an educational research project and school practice. In addition, you can also participate in the World Teachers Programme to prepare for bilingual and international teaching.

study abroad

Because of the tailor made construction of the programme, students get the opportunity to study abroad. There is the option to follow elective courses abroad. You can also conduct a research project abroad, at another university or in industry.

Op kamers in Leiden

aan het woord: studenten en docenten

Beenakker

Testimonial Prof. Beenakker

“We regard master's students as fully-fledged researchers.”

“Physics requires skills which are not so readily available. You have to like solving problems and you have to like Maths. My experience has been that anyone who studies physics soon becomes fascinated by the subject. Almost all bachelor's graduates take a master's, and many carry on to take a PhD.

Leiden University has a cast-iron reputation as a research university. Two physics lecturers have received the Spinoza prize, the highest award for science in the Netherlands...

They have their own working space and play a full part in the business of conducting science. What I enjoy most about my work is when I am working together with students on a research project, in the traditional master/apprentice role. A student comes here to learn about scientific research; I am the coach. This fits well within our teams, which have a maximum of six people.

As a theoretical physicist, I like unravelling problems, but I like it even more when students do it. I see students develop into mature scientists. It fascinates me, and I find it very rewarding. All our lecturers are researchers at heart. We take our students very seriously.”

Na de studie

Beroepsperspectief / arbeidsmarkt

After graduation, you will have a lot of opportunities: academics are highly sought after in Dutch secondary education or MBO teaching. You can also aim for a management position or work as a researcher within the field of Physics.

The Master of Science programme guarantees thorough research training founded on a sound theoretical basis. After graduating, you will have excellent knowledge of fundamental Physics and highly developed curiosity-driven research skills. Moreover, you have obtained the skills and knowledge to apply your Physics background to issues of classroom practice.

After completing the Physics master's programme you will have a broad array of career prospects. All students with a Master of Science in Physics are admissible to a PhD programme. If you have the desire to apply your knowledge of Physics outside the university, there are ample job possibilities in high-tech industry, software and consultancy companies worldwide, or a career as a teacher, science communicator or science policy maker.